Final answer:
Protected Health Information (PHI) encompasses all individually identifiable health information that is held or transmitted by covered entities under the standards established by HIPAA. Examples of PHI include a patient's medical history, diagnoses, test results, and treatment information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Protected Health Information (PHI) encompasses all individually identifiable health information that is held or transmitted by covered entities under the standards established by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Examples of PHI include a patient's medical history, diagnoses, test results, treatment information, and any other information that can be used to identify the individual.
HIPAA's standards require that covered entities, such as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, implement safeguards to protect the privacy and security of PHI. This includes measures like restricting access to PHI, encrypting electronic PHI, and obtaining written consent from patients before disclosing their PHI to others.